graphic

Graphic Novel Review: The Orphan King

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The Orphan King by Tyler Chin-Tanner

The Orphan King (The Orphan King, #1)
by Tyler Chin-Tanner, James Boyle (Illustrator), Andrew Dalhouse (Color Artist), Pete Carlsson (Letterer)

4 out of 5 stars

This graphic novel follows Prince Kaidan, who travels to a faraway island for combat training with his aunt. When he returns, he finds the kingdom in ruins and his parents dead or missing. With a price on his head, Kaidan can trust no one, and he is being hunted wherever he goes.

I loved the legendary tropes in this book! Kaidan is like a young King Arthur, and there is also a Robin Hood type character, but the story isn’t really a retelling of either of those stories. There are elements from those legends, but this story stands on its own. I can’t wait to read the next volume in the series!

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Graphic Novel Review: Pixels of You

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Pixels of You by Ananth Hirsh

Pixels of You
by Ananth Hirsh, Yuko Ota, J.R. Doyle (Illustrations)

3 out of 5 stars

Indira is not thrilled when she has to team up with an android to put together an art show, but she quickly learns that Fawn is more than just a android. They learn to work together and explore their artistic sides through photography. Eventually, the two girls discover that friendship is possible no matter if you are cyborg, human, or android. They begin to have romantic feelings for each other as well.

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Graphic Novel Review: The Daughters of Ys

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The Daughters of Ys by M.T. Anderson
The Daughters of Ys
by M.T. Anderson, Jo Rioux 

1 out of 5 stars

When their mother dies, two princesses handle their grief differently. One sister finds solace in the beauties of nature, and the other learns everything she can about her mother’s magic in the palace. Ys is a city built with dark magic. As the sisters grow up, the evil of their kingdom can no longer be contained.

I did not enjoy this graphic novel. There are very graphic violent scenes with a lot of blood and gore. And there are sexual scenes, and that ruined it for me. I wish the story could have been told in a more classy way. Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: This Was Our Pact

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This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews
This Was Our Pact
by Ryan Andrews (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars


Ben and his friends are determined to follow the river on the night of their Autumn Festival. Every year thousands of lanterns are floated down the river, and legend says that the lanterns float up to join the stars. Ben makes a pact with his friends to find out the truth about where the lanterns go, and they hop on their bikes to follow the lanterns. But the weird kid, Nathaniel, follows them, and when everyone else turns back, Nathaniel and Ben discover the true magic that surrounds the lanterns.

This book is so beautiful and whimsical! I was enchanted from the very beginning. The lovely artwork, the imaginative plot, the emotional characters, and the engaging dialogue kept me entranced through every page. Continue reading →

Comic Review: Green Lantern Legacy

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Green Lantern by Minh Lê
Green Lantern: Legacy
by Minh Lê, Andie Tong (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars 

Tai discovers the power of the Green Lantern when his grandmother passes on her jade ring to him. With very little training from the other Green Lanterns, Tai tries to stop vandalism in his neighborhood. But there is an even bigger threat hiding right under his nose, and Tai will need his friends support while he learns to harness his new powers.

I loved this comic from start to finish!
Tai is such a deep and complex character. His close relationship with his family is at the heart of everything he does, and there is a huge emotional aspect to his story that really drew me in. Tai is Vietnamese-American, and his family heritage is important to him. I loved seeing the rich Vietnamese culture, and the traditions of kindness and generosity in his family. Continue reading →

Comic Review: Zatanna and the House of Secrets

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Zatanna & the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody
Zatanna & the House of Secrets
by Matthew Cody, Yoshi Yoshitani (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars


Zatanna is just trying to survive middle school. She and her stage-magician Dad live in a mysterious house with an adorable pet rabbit, Pocus. Zatanna believes that her father’s magic tricks are just illusions, until one fateful day when she encounters real magic. She realizes that the house holds more secrets than she ever knew, and she must navigate trick stairs, cold dungeons, and enigmatic doors to escape the clutches of a wicked sorceress and save her father.

I loved this comic from start to finish! Zatanna is a wonderful character, and she has some good personal development and teen angst that packs an emotional punch. The plot is enchanting and mystic with lots of wonderful surprises and twists. I loved the magical elements in the House of Secrets, and especially the magical characters and creatures that Zatanna meets as she discovers a new world of wizardy and spells. Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: Black Canary Ignite

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Black Canary by Meg Cabot
Black Canary: Ignite
by Meg Cabot (Author), Cara McGee (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Dinah has goals: sing and play guitar with her two best friends and win her school’s Battle of the Bands, join the Junior Police Academy and learn to solve crimes, and basically save the world. When things start to mysteriously crack and break whenever Dinah is around, her friends think she must be telekinetic, but Dinah doesn’t feel like she has superpowers. As she struggles to understand what is happening, Dinah turns to her parents, a florist and a cop, to make sense of her heritage and decide her future.

I LOVED this graphic novel!!! Everything about this book is amazing! The artwork, the characters, the plot, the dialogue, the action; it all comes together so perfectly to grab the reader’s attention and tell an engaging story. Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules

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Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules by Tony Cliff
Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules (Delilah Dirk, #3) 
by Tony Cliff (Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


I love all the Delilah Dirk graphic novels! Delilah is contrary and tough and always jumping into adventure. Her sidekick Selim is always by her side, a little more cautious, but loyal to the last.

The two intrepid friends come across the path of a Dutchman who has a clue to the lost ruins known as the Third Pillar of Hercules, and the trio set off looking for treasure. But the Dutchman has his own agenda, and Delilah and Selim must learn who they can truly trust.

An old enemy shows his face at the worst possible moment, putting everything in jeopardy, and the friends must fight and claw their way through to emerge triumphant in the lost cities and tombs of the ancient past.

I enjoyed the non-stop action, the mysteries of ancient civilizations, and the camaraderie between Delilah and Selim. Wonderful graphic novel, with beautiful artwork and strong colors!

Graphic Novel Review: Abraham Lincoln

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Abraham Lincoln by Mark Shulman
Abraham Lincoln: Defender of the Union! 
by Mark Shulman ,Tom Martin (Illustrations)

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This graphic novel tells the history of Abraham Lincoln, from his childhood to his death, how he became president, his tragic family grief, and how he guided the American nation through the Civil War, and was ultimately assassinated.

I loved this overview of Lincoln’s life! The cartoony artwork is colorful and bright, with lots of funny details in the background that bring the story to life.

I think the writers did a wonderful job of condensing such a rich life story into so few pages, but still highlighting the most important and memorable aspects of Lincoln’s presidency and personal life. There were many details that I found interesting and engaging, as well as some cute jokes and anecdotes that were entertaining to read. Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: Alexander Hamilton

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Alexander Hamilton by Mark Shulman
Alexander Hamilton: The Fighting Founding Father! (Show Me History!) 
by Mark Shulman ,Kelly Tindall (Illustrator), John Roshell (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


This graphic novel follows an overview of Hamilton’s life, his service in the Revolutionary War, and his involvement in constructing the financial laws of the new American government.

It’s difficult to squeeze an entire life into 96 pages, and I thought the balance of story-telling could have been better. Interesting parts of Hamilton’s military career were skimmed over, and a lot more time was dedicated to his political battles to establish a federal government with a national currency, etc… I thought the book would have been more engaging if they had spent slightly less time on the politics, since it doesn’t have as much action.

The art style is cartoony and bright, with a lot of funny details in the background. The art is unpolished, and I think it could have been a little more refined. But still, it’s cute, and the panels have lots of energy. Continue reading →